“Power hunger” driving BJP’s attacks on NC govt in J&K: Rattan Lal Gupta

In a scathing attack on the BJP on Saturday, Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial president of the National Conference (NC), alleged that “power-hungry” leaders were conspiring to create political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir and weaken the mandate given to the government by the people.

Addressing a one-day convention of the NC Scheduled Caste Cell here, Gupta alleged that certain BJP leaders were creating unnecessary confrontation and political uncertainty in the Union Territory to satisfy their “hunger for power”.

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He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear mandate in favour of the present government, and any attempt to weaken or destabilise it amounted to disrespecting the democratic will of the electorate.

Gupta accused some BJP leaders of targeting the elected government to please their political bosses in New Delhi instead of working for the welfare and development of the people. He maintained that such actions were harmful to governance and contrary to democratic principles.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered enough due to political uncertainty and bureaucratic control. Democracy survives only when the mandate of the people is respected”, he said.

The NC leader also urged the Centre to cooperate with the elected government and fulfil its promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay. He said the people deserved a full-fledged democratic system and warned that attempts to subvert the public mandate would be strongly resisted by democratic forces.

Calling for an end to political confrontation, Gupta said Jammu and Kashmir needed development, employment generation, infrastructure growth and effective governance rather than what he described as “backdoor attempts” to grab power.

The convention, organised by NC SC Cell Chairman Vijay Lochan, also discussed issues concerning Scheduled Castes and other marginalised sections. Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and Vijay Lochan said the Omar Abdullah-led government remained committed to the welfare and upliftment of weaker and disadvantaged sections of society and was working to ensure inclusive development across Jammu and Kashmir.